Mark's Story: The Gospel According to Peter Page 18

  He sent his aides directly back to Antioch when he left for Rome. On the journey he mulled precious memories of his godly mother and thanked the Lord for the privilege of having seen her one last time. It had allowed him to express his love and thanks for her having served for so long as both mother and father to him. And it allowed her the chance to tell him how pleased she was with his choice to give his life in service to God.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  Mark found himself ministering with Peter and sometimes Paul in Rome until more than thirty years had passed since the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Paul had not overstated the explosive growth of the church in the capital of the empire that boasted more than a million residents. Every day was filled with teaching and preaching, evangelizing and then equipping the saints. Bodies of believers sprang up all over the city, and Mark and the apostles labored to train leaders for each. In the midst of all that, Paul continued to travel widely and frequently write letters to the churches he had started or helped build.

  On his travels, Paul reported falling under such abuse that Mark wondered whether word would one day come that he had been martyred. He was arrested, imprisoned, shipwrecked, stoned nearly to death, and generally hauled before authorities nearly everywhere he went. Often he had to employ his rank as a Roman citizen to avoid even harsher sentences.

  The level of persecution in Rome itself seemed to ebb and flow depending on which emperor was on the throne. Nero, who had become the youngest emperor in Roman history several years before at the age of seventeen, seemed to slowly become aware of what many termed an eastern sect called Christianity. Paul, on his frequent stops in Rome between missionary journeys, warned Mark and Peter to beware the emperor and to do their best to keep low profiles. Many of the early Roman Christians had come from the Jewish community, which consisted of tens of thousands of slaves and merchants with connections to Jerusalem.

  Peter gave Mark more and more authority and occasionally sent him also on forays far from Rome. But Mark’s most rewarding work during this season of his life came when he was able to spend extended blocks of time with Peter. Not that he found much opportunity to simply sit and listen. To get Peter to tell him more of his eyewitness story of the Christ took a very unusual request from Gentile believers in Rome.

  As Mark traveled throughout the area preaching and teaching, he often used Peter’s accounts of Jesus to make his points. Soon, everywhere he went, people clamored for more of the same. “You are rarely with us,” one said. “And it is rare indeed that we see Peter. His memories must be recorded so we can know the entire story.”

  Mark had to admit to himself that he repeated that conversation in more than one section of Rome, hoping that others would echo the request. Which they did. And with that ammunition, he persuaded Peter to tell him more.

  He admitted to his old mentor that he had stacks of papyrus sheets of his notes from their conversations over the years, and somehow this seemed to intrigue Peter and fuel him with a peculiar urgency to see the task through.

  “It falls to you, Mark, as I am no scholar, neither am I skilled with the quill. But if you are to do this, to spread abroad a written record of the gospel of Christ, I must supervise it and examine every word.”

  Mark could barely contain himself. “Of course, master. Whatever you say. We have been so successful in developing leaders for our churches that we should be able to afford the luxury of time to make an accurate account from my notes and from what more you have to tell me.”

  “It must be so much more than that,” Peter said, and Mark was amused that suddenly the once reluctant apostle now seemed to see the idea as his own. So much the better.

  “How do you envision it, sir?”

  “Well, as you say that demand for such has come from the bodies of believers in and around Rome, it should be directed at them. Others may read it if we can employ scribes to copy it, but it should be intended for local eyes, Gentile Roman Christians. And as I have told it to you over the years, it is less a life story of Jesus than an account of his ministry in Judea and Galilee.”

  “It is shaping up that way, Peter, yes, but in my mind—from what you have told me already—it is more than an account of His activities. It is the story of the Son of God, the King, the Messiah, but primarily a servant.”

  Peter got that faraway look again. “Yes, yes, I can see that. He was above all a Servant. I told you, did I not, that He once said that ‘whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’”

  Mark nodded. “You told me. Let me get my papyrus.”

  For days the men used every spare moment to pore over the scribblings Mark had made—mostly at night after having listened to Peter during their travels. Now the old man sat studying them, advising, rearranging, correcting. “I can see there is more I need tell you to make it complete.”

  “Nothing would please me more.”

  “Picking up where we left off so long ago, let me tell you of our next entry into Jerusalem.”

  “This could not have been terribly long before you came to our house for Passover.”

  “Correct, although much happened before that. Jesus went directly to the temple and was furious to see men buying and selling there. We watched in horror as he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. We feared the religious leaders, of course, and that they might involve the Romans in trying to stop Him. But He was not concerned about them. His mind was on not allowing anyone to carry wares through the temple.

  “He shouted, ‘Is it not written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it a “den of thieves.” ’”

  “He did this publicly, right there at the temple?”

  “Yes! And as we expected, the scribes and chief priests heard it. We knew they would seek to destroy Him, for they feared Him because all the people were astonished at His teaching. They left Him alone then, which made us only the more wary.

  “That evening, He led us out of the city. The next morning, on the same route back to Jerusalem from Bethany, we passed the same fig tree as the day before. I said, ‘Rabbi, look! The tree You cursed has withered away.’

  “Jesus stopped and studied it, then gazed to the hills. ‘Have faith in God,’ he said. ‘For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

  “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.’”

  “Seeing the fig tree again spurred all that?” Mark said.

  “I do not understand the connection myself,” Peter said. “But I have never forgotten his words.”

  “And I suppose when you returned to Jerusalem the religious leaders were lying in wait.”

  “Indeed they were. When Jesus walked into the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him and said, ‘By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?’

  “Jesus said, ‘I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John–was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.’

  “Now, Mark, they huddled away from Him to reason among themselves, but I could hear them. They were saying, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” He will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “From men” ’—they feared the people, for everyone believed the baptizer John to have been a prophet. So they said to Jesus, ‘We do
not know.’

  “Jesus said, ‘Then neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’ And with that He immediately told them a story. He said, ‘A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

  “‘He sent them another servant, and they threw stones at him, wounded him in the head, and sent him away. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he sent him to them last, saying, “They will respect my son.”

  “‘But those vinedressers said among themselves, “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”?’

  “They knew He had spoken the parable against them, Mark, and it was obvious they wanted to lay hands on Jesus and arrest him. But they feared the multitude, so they went away. Soon some of the Pharisees and the Herodians arrived, clearly hoping to catch Him saying something for which they could charge Him.

  “They said, ‘Teacher, we know that You are true and show no partiality to anyone, for You do not regard the station of men but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?’

  “It was almost amusing, Mark, their flattery while trying to embarrass Him. But He, knowing they were hypocrites, said, ‘Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.’ So they brought it. And He said, ‘Whose image and inscription is this?’

  “They said, ‘Caesar’s.’

  “And Jesus said, ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’

  “They were amazed at His wisdom and had nothing to say. Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and said, ‘Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all, the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be?’

  “Jesus said, ‘Are you not mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.’

  “Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’

  “Jesus said, ‘The first of all the commandments is: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’

  “So the scribe said to Him, ‘Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.’

  “Now when Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, He said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared question Him.

  “Then Jesus taught in the temple, saying, ‘How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” Therefore David himself calls Him “Lord”; how is He then his Son?’

  “Well, the common people heard Him gladly because He spoke against the legalists when he said, ‘Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.’

  “Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the collection box. Many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which amounts to one sixty-fourth of a day’s wage. He called us disciples to Himself and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.’

  “As we followed Him out of the temple, I said, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!’ For they were beautiful.

  “Jesus said, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ I had no idea what He was talking about.

  “Soon we made our way to the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, where James, John, Andrew, and I asked Him privately, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?’

  “Did he tell you?”

  Peter appeared deep in thought, looking past Mark and speaking in a monotone. He furrowed his brow, then closed his eyes and said, “Lord, fill my memory and give me utterance. And then he recited Jesus’ entire answer:

  “‘Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,” and will deceive many. But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

  “‘But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

  “‘Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

  “‘So when you see the “abomination of desolation,” spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.

  “‘But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

  “‘And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened
the days. Then if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.

  “‘But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

  “‘Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

  “This generation?” Mark said.

  “I believe He meant the generation that sees the signs in the heavens when He returns as He promised.”

  “‘But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: “Watch!” ’”

  Peter’s breath came in short bursts and he appeared to need to recline.

  “Are you all right, master?” Mark said, putting down his quill.

  Peter raised a hand to indicate he was fine. “I feel as if I have worked an entire day.”